SYDNEY: The Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) announced the recipient of the organisation's 2021 Freedom Award as the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP––Australia's Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure and Cities and the Arts, for his ongoing support for the Republic of Artsakh, Armenian Genocide recognition and other Armenian-Australian issues.
The Freedom Award is the most prestigious international award presented to those who have demonstrated an unflinching commitment to advocate for issues of justice that matter to Armenian-Australians.
Throughout his commendable political rise from humble back-bencher to front-bench Minister, the Member for Bradfield has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advocating for Armenian-Australian issues, taking a consistently principled stance.
Fletcher became the first federal parliamentarian to speak in support of the independence of the Republic of Artsakh in 2010 in the House of Representatives.
Minister Fletcher was also an inaugural member of the Australian Friends of Artsakh network, established in August 2019 and now includes over 85 prominent Australians who support the indigenous people's rights to self-determination in Artsakh.
He has been a vocal advocate for Armenian Genocide recognition by the Australian government, first addressing the Parliament on the issue following the passing of Sydney based Armenian Genocide survivor Arshag Badelian, to most recently endorsing the Joint Justice Initiative established in 2020 by the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities.
The Freedom Award was one of three honours handed out at this year's Gala. Senator Kristina Keneally, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, was awarded the Armenian Community's Friend of the Year Award, and the Ben Bagdikian Media Award was presented to Michael Brissenden, a former political editor, ABC Radio host and ABC TV Current Affairs Washington Correspondent.
ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian thanked Fletcher on behalf of the Australian-Armenian community.
“We are humbled to have someone who has stood for our community's claims for justice rise to the heights of ministership, and nobody deserves this honour more than Mr. Fletcher,” said Kayserian.
“Mr. Fletcher has never shied away from speaking out against Australia’s failure to recognise the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides or demonstrating his support for the Republic of Artsakh’s independence,” added Kayserian.
Minister Fletcher’s acceptance speech can be viewed by clicking here or watching below.
Fletcher joined past recipients of this distinguished award including NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Film Director Terry George, German politician Cem Ozdemir, Australian Parliamentarian Joe Hockey, Armenian Studies pioneer Professor Richard Hovanissian, The Uniting Church in Australia, musician Serj Tankian, bestselling author Chris Bohjalian and Australian Parliamentarian John Alexander.
